Venetian blind mechanism



April 26, 1938. H. w. WATTS VENETIAN BLIND MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOK 4/ MW ATTORNEYS A ril 26, 1938. H. w. WATTS VENETIAN BLIND MECHANISM Filed April 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 5 Patented Apr. 26 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Barry W. with, The Edward J. Roi! Company, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Mapiewood, N. 1., alllsnor to Cincinnati,

Application April 1, 1936, semi No. 12.031

11 Claims.

nism of the blind is secured, a novel type of supporting bracket for head-rails and a new combination of a head-rail with its supporting brack ets.

Other objects of the invention will become ap-.

parent in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of a Venetian blind in position in a window-frame.

(Fig. 2 is a plan view of one end of the head-rail and one of the supporting brackets therefor.

Fig. 3 is a front view corresponding to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section through the head-rail taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a supporting bracket, showing a section through the head-rail extension piece, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a. view of the supporting bracket for the tilt bar, together with the cord lock, shown in position attached to the head-rail, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line I'| of Fig. 6, showing the internal construction of the cord lock.

Fig. 8 is a section through a part of the headrail and a valance, showing how a valance may be secured to the head-rail.

Fig. 9 is a side view and Fig. 10 a front view of a modified form of supporting bracket.

Referring to Fig. 1, a Venetian blind is shown in position inside a window-frame l0, wherein it is supported in the usual manner by brackets, designated generally as H, in which is held a head-rail l2. In this head-rail is located the mechanism which supports the blind and by which it is operated. Secured in the head-rail l2, at the left-hand end, is any suitable type of tilting mechanism l4, which comprises a supporting bracket I5, a tilting bracket l6 mounted so as to be rotatable on the pivot l8 by means of -.a gear and worm (not shown), which worm is driven by the pulley l9 actuated by the cord 20. A suitable lug 2|, which is secured to the tilt bar 22, is inserted in a slot in the tilting bracket The blind is raised and lowered in the usual manner by means of the cords II which are secured to the bottom rail 29 and pass over pulleys 3| which run on axles 32 mounted in the headrail. The cords Ill pass to the right and over the pulley 24 and through the cord lock 25.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the head-rail I2 is in the form of a channel member having a web 36, in which are formed the reinforcing ribs 38, and the side walls 39, as best shown in the crosssection of the head-rail in Fig. 6. The head-rail is formed from sheet metal, whichmay be of relatively light gauge because its construction gives the head-rail great inherent rigidity. It is therefore very inexpensive to manufacture.

To each end of the head-rail i2 is secured an extension plate 40, also formed from sheet metal and having the reinforcing ribs 4i, which are of such shape and so positioned as to nest with the ribs 38 in the head-rail. The extension plate 40 is secured to the head-rail [2 by means of the square-shouldered bolt 42, provided with a nut 44. This bolt 42, as shown in Fig. 4, passes through an elongated slot 45 in the extension plate 40, a square opening in the head-rail and a corresponding square opening in the washer plate 46. This washer plate 46 is shown in plan view in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in cross-section in Fig. 4, from which it may be seen that it is.

provided with the depressions 41 to accommodate the ribs 38 in the head-rail.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that with two of the extension plates 40, which are arranged to slide on the head-rail l2, the effective length of the head-rail may be varied by twice the length of the slot 45. To enable the head-rail to be adjusted quickly for windows of various sizes and at the same time adjusted so that the Venetian blind will be centered with respect to the window, indicia may be provided on the extension plate 40, as indicated in Fig. 2. As shown, these indicia may consist of graduations, in fractions of an inch, marked at the edge of the plate 40, which may be read against the end 48 of the head-rail I! as an index. As an example of how the head-rail may be adjusted for the correct length and centered, it may be assumed that, with the extension pieces in their fully retracted position, the over-all length of the head-rail and extension pieces is inches. This length is indicated when the graduations marked 30 on each extension piece are opposite the ends of the head-rail l2. The graduations are numbered successively each half inch so as to indicate the total length of the head-rail when the extension plate on each end has been moved to the same number. Thus, when the extension plate is moved so as to bring the graduation, numbered 31", into a position opposite the end of the head-rail, thus extending that plate inch, and the corresponding extension plate on the other end is placed in a corresponding position; the over-all length will be 31 inches. when the extension plates have been positioned as may be desired, they are locked in place by tightening the nuts 44.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5. the supporting bracket will now be described. This bracket consists generally of a clamping device which is adapted to be secured to any suitable part of the window-frame, and into which, after it is in position, the head-rail carrying the blind may be placed and securely locked. 'Ihis bracket consists of a flxed plate II, the top I. of which is provided with a flange at right angles to the plate to form one of a pair of laws. A pair of ears are bent up from the metal of the plate 48 to form guides for the clamping member 52. The top 54 of the member II, which is bent at right angles to the body to form a flange, is preferably given a conflguration corresponding to the under side of the head-rail extension plate 40. The lower edge I is bent outwardly to provide a bearing surface for the cam 50, the cam being afllxed to the plate 49 by means of the rivet 5|, between the cam and which there is a spring washer 59. The outer end of the cam lever 60 is turned up to form a handle I.

By rotating the cam 56 about its pivot, the clamping member 82 is raised and lowered relative to the top flange ll of the plate 49, so that the top flange 50 of the plate 48 and the top flange 54 of the member 52 act like the Jaws of a vise. To retain the cam in the position shown in Fig. 5, a lug 62 is provided on the plate 49. The lever 80 can be snapped over this lug by reason of the play provided by the spring washer 5!.

To permit the parts of the bracket to be readily assembled, it will be noted that the top flange I54 of the clamping member 52 has a width slightly less than the distance between the ears 5|, permitting. the clamping member 82 to be slipped under the ears 5i, after which operation the cam may be assembled to the plate 49. As soon as this has been done, the clamping member 52 can no longer be removed.

Suitable screw holes $4 are provided in the plate 49, it being understood that the screw hole which is underneath the clamping member is countersunk so that a flat-head screw can be inserted through the larger hole 65 in the clamping member, leaving the clamping member free to slide up and down.

A modified form of supporting bracket, but one operating on the same principle as that just described, is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This bracket is adapted to be fastened to parts of the window frame which are either parallel or at right angles to the window. To this end the flxed plate is bent to form a base I! and a side I6 at right angles thereto, each containing suitable holes for screws or other i'astenings. The side 18 is recessed as at 11 to accommodate the end of the head-rail l2v in windows of minimum width. The top I! is bent at right angles to the base I! and forms a flange acting as one of the jaws of a clamp. The clamping member II has a top flange II with a shape conforming to the lower surface of the extension plate 40 and is provided with openings I2 through which screws can be inserted in the holes 84. It is mounted for sliding movement on the fixed plate by means of the shouldered rivet I which passes through the elongated slot 00. One edge of member ll abuts the side Ii of the flxed plate so that it can only slide parallel thereto. A cam lever 81 is pivotally mounted on the rivet 85. with its cam face bearing against the under side of the top flange l l,raising it into clamping position when the lever is moved downwardly. The flat face provided on the nose of the cam causes it to remain in the clamping position shown in the drawings unless intentionally moved.

Obviously, with either type of bracket, the dis .tance between the jaws may be adapted to receive a head-rail of any thickness.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the tilt bar supporting bracket 25 is secured to the web 36 of the head-rail II by any suitable means, such as spot-welding. An opening 66 is provided in the bracket 25 for the passage of the cords 30, which pass over the pulley 34 and through the cordlock 35 in which is the dog 68 which is free to rotate about the pivot 69, locking the cord 30 against the shoulder in a manner well understood in the art.

To secure the gudgeon 2i in the bracket 25 against accidental displacement, the latch II, which is pivoted at 12, is provided.

From the foregoing, detailed description of the construction of the various parts, the following explanation of the operation will be readily understood: The supporting brackets are screwed" to the window-frame, whereupon the cam levers are moved to open the clamping jaws of the brackets. The width of the window having been determined, the extension plates 40 are adjusted to the appropriate dimension and the nuts 44 are tightened, locking the extension plates in place. The head-rail l2, together with the mechanism for raising and tilting the blind which is carried by it, is then placed in position with the protruding ends of the extension plates between the jaws of the brackets, the extension plates resting upon the tops of the lower clamping members. The entire mechanism is then quickly and securely locked in place by moving the cam levers to raise the clamping members. The tilt bar 22 carrying the tapes and slats is then placed in position with the lug 2| in the tilting bracket ii, and the gudgeon 24 is dropped into the slot in the bracket 25 and the latch II is closed. The entire blind mechanism may be quickly removed, for purposes of cleaning the blind or giving access to the window, by merely reversing the procedure just described.

One of the features of the present invention, which is highly advantageous from the standpoint of simplicity, economy in manufacture, and improvement in appearance, is the construction of the head-rail in the form of a channel member with the opening in the channel opening downwardly, so that the operating mechanism for the blind, including the tilt bar brackets and associated mechanism and the cord pulleys, may all be mounted up inside the head-rail where much of the mechanism is hidden from view. It will readily be understood that the front wall of the head-rail, being one of the walls 39, may be given any suitable dimension so as to conceal as much of the mechanism as may be desired.

By a means other than increasing the width of the wall of the head-rail, the mechanism may also be effectively concealed by the means shown in Fig. 8, which consists of a valance 88 in the form of a panel of textile fabric or other suitable material, hemmed along its edges and preferably stiffened by inserting wires 89 in the hems. This valance is provided with snap fasteners 90 for insertion in holes 9| in the head rail. This valance can be made of such size as to conceal the tilt bar, or still larger to conceal the stack of slats when the blindis fully raised.

Another advantage, over previous devices, from the standpoint of appearance is that the tilt bar brackets are elevated above their usual position by substantially the entire thickness of the headrail, thus reducing the space between the tilt bar andthe head-rail which has heretofore been an unsightly gap.

While the foregoing description refers to a preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications in the configuration, construction, and disposition of the component elements going to make up the same may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or the specific illustrations in the accompanying drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting bracket for a Venetian blind headrail comprising a fixed plate adapted to be secured to a vertical surface and having a clamping face extending at right angles to the main portion of said plate, an angular clamping memher having one face slidably mounted upon said member to close said jaws.

2. A supporting bracket for a Venetian blind headrail comprising a fixed plate adapted to be secured to a vertical surface, a perpendicularly extending clamping flange on said plate, a clamping member slidably mounted on said plate and having a portion adapted to coact with said flange to form a pair of jaws, guide means for securing said member to said plate, and a cam mounted on said plate and bearing against said member, whereby said jaws can be closed.

3. A supporting bracket for a Venetian blind headrail comprising a fixed plate adapted to be secured to a vertical surface, a perpendicularly extending clamping flange on said plate, a clamping member slidably mounted on said plate and having a portion adapted to coact with said flange to form a pair of jaws, a shouldered stud secured to said plate and passing through an elongated slot in said member, and a cam mounted on said stud and adapted to bear against the clamping jaw of said member.

4. Supporting means for a Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a head rail,,supporting brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, each bracket including an outwardly extending stationary flange, and a movable clamping member extending beneath and adapted to support an end of the head rail, and a cam arranged to raise said clamping member to clamp the head rail against said flange,

5. Supporting means for a Venetian blind comprising in combination, a head rail in the form of a channel member provided with longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs, extension pieces slidably mounted on said head rail and extending beyond the ends thereof and provided with ribs corresponding to and coacting with those of the head rail to maintain said members in alinement, brackets adapted to be secured to a window frame, each bracket having a flange extending above said pieces, and a clamping member having a flange extendingbeneath and adapted to support said pieces, the flange of said clamping memher being formed with recesses to receive the ribs on said pieces, and means for raising the clamping member to clamping position.

6. A supporting device for a Venetian blind comprising, a head-rail having longitudinally disposed ribs therein, brackets for supporting the respective ends of the head-rail, said brackets including jaw elements in each instance engaging the upper and lower faces of the head-rail, at least one jaw of each bracket including longitudinal depressions registering with the ribs of the head-rail for preventing lateral displacement of the head-rail with respect to the jaws and means for actuating one of the jaws of each bracket for clamping the head-rail in the brackets.

'7. A Venetian blind supporting mechanism comprising, a head-rail consisting of a channelshaped element having its side flanges extending downwardly and extensions adjustably slidably mounted and attached to each end of the headrail, and brackets for mounting the respective ends of the head-rail in a window frame, said brackets including jaws clamping upon the extensions of the head-rail.

8 A Venetian blind supporting mechanism comprising, a head-rail consisting of a channelshaped element having its side flanges extending downwardly and extensions adjustably slidably mounted and attached to each end of the headrail, said extensions being of strip form without flanges, and brackets for mounting the respective ends of the head-rail in a window frame, said brackets including jaws clamping upon the extensions of the head-rail.

9. A Venetian blind supporting mechanism comprising a sheet metal head-rail of channel form providing a horizontally disposed web and depending side walls, means for attaching said head-rail to the window frame, a valance consisting of a panel of cloth, and snap fastener elements for securing said valance to the front wall of the head-rail for concealing the mechanism of the Venetian blind, said valance, therefore, quickly detachable for cleaning purposes.

10. A Venetian blind supporting mechanism, comprising, a head-rail, extensions adjustably slidably mounted upon each end of the head-rail,

means for fixing the extensions in position on the head-raiL'brackets for mounting the respective outer ends of the extensions in position in a window frame, each of said brackets including elements providing a throat adapted to receive the end of the adjacent extension, and locking devices for fixing the extensions in position against displacement from said throats.

11. A Venetian blind supporting mechanism comprising a head-rail consisting of a channel element having its web disposed horizontally for 

